Thursday, July 05, 2012

Baby with two heads and two necks born in India

A woman gave birth to a healthy child with two heads and necks in a private hospital in Muktsar, Punjab,after a major operation on Tuesday. The new-born male baby is under observation in the intensive care unit of the hospital where the condition of the child is stated to be critical. Doctors said that if the baby survives for 24 hours, then he can be referred to a bigger institution for further treatment.

Payal Rani, wife of Subhash and resident of Goniana road in Muktsar, was admitted in Guru Nanak Ayurvedic College and Hospital at Barkandi road in city for delivery at about 10 am on Tuesday morning. The blood pressure of the woman was very high and doctors decided to operate her. A panel of three doctors - Dr Sukhvinder Singh, Dr Mukesh Bansal and Dr M L Ashwani - operated the woman, but were shocked to see the child. The child was born with two heads and two necks separately, with a single body.

"The baby born with two heads and necks is a full term male baby. He is active and healthy now. The weight of baby at the time of birth is 3.1 kg.", said Dr Rajendra Bansal, a child specialist. "At the time of birth, the baby was not crying which is mandatory. But after treatment, he cried. The baby was shifted to the nursery in my hospital where he is being kept on oxygen and fluid. He is surviving well," Bansal said.

"We asked parents of the baby to refer the baby to some bigger institution like AIIMS or PGI, Chandigarh. They are from labour class and were not willing to go anywhere. They pleaded with us to take the baby home but IMA, Muktsar has decided to treat the baby. The baby was later sent to my hospital from Guru Nank Hospital." Bansal said. "The IMA has decided that if the baby survives, then the cost of treatment of the baby will be borne by them," he added. "This is the first time when such type of a baby is born in Muktsar and he is alive. About ten years back, a baby was born with two heads and necks, but he was born dead", Dr Mukesh said.